JVS member, Sybil Esmore, passed away last week, at her home in North London. A classically trained singer who studied voice in London, New York & Munich, with some of the world’s foremost authorities, she performed an eclectic range of musical styles, in eight different languages, throughout Europe and on both sides of the Atlantic, before rising to prominence, as one of Europe’s leading vocal coaches.
Having developed her own unique vocal training system, based, in part, on the Italian operatic ‘Bel Canto’ method, Sybil worked with numerous chart acts, records labels, production companies, screen actors, educational institutions, and charities.
She also appeared regularly on a wide variety of domestic and international television and radio shows, perhaps, most notoriously, once demonstrating how to sing the Sex Pistols’ ‘Anarchy in the UK’, on the Barrymore show, whilst Michael Barrymore smashed up the studio set in the background. The Daily Mail called it “a spirited rendition.”
JVS members may remember that in 2012, Sybil organised a concert for the JVS, to raise funds for the society’s vegetarian outreach projects, that featured performances by several sopranos & tenors, singing everything from Mozart to Mick Jagger.
When not teaching, Sybil wrote about music and the arts for Satellite Times, The Glasgow Herald and Music and Musicians, interviewing luminaries such as Ken Russell and Luciano Pavarotti. Sybil’s Pavarotti interview, resulted in her being made an honorary member of The Luciano Pavarotti Appreciation Society of Great Britain, alongside Pavarotti himself, Sir Jeremy Isaacs and broadcaster Derek Jameson.
At the time of her death, Sybil had just completed a book about singing and was working on a book of her poems and short stories.
Her levayah will be at 2.00pm on Sunday 7th November 2021 at Willesden Jewish Cemetery. Following this, her sons will be sitting shiva in Edgware. Anyone who would like to attend the levayah and/or the shiva should contact the following email address for further details: [email protected]